Baseball is still huge here in America, but it's slipped in recent years and outside of the USA nobody cares, which is sad because I love Baseball. Right now, with the hype coming into next season and the potential dynasty in Miami, the NBA is poised to come back into the relevance it had during the 90's when Jordan and the Bulls were dominating.

The NBA is has been getting more steam again in America over the last few years, but it has actually become quite popular globally, especially with the rise in European players over the last 15 years. Even in China the league gets a ton of exposure from Yao Ming, and I mean a TON. Like upwards of 100 million people or some crazy number.

The fact that NBA discussion even seems relevant in sports news in Mid-July is a testament to just how much interest has spiked. Now, we can all sit back and watch the NBA screw it all up when they try to renegotiate the CBA with the Players Union next year and end up having another lockout. Because we all know the smartest thing to do when you are most popular is to just stop playing all together

CHICAGO (AP)—Jesse Jackson criticized Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert on Sunday, saying Gilbert sees LeBron James(notes) as a “runaway slave” and that the owner’s comments after the free-agent forward decided to join the Miami Heat put the player in danger.

Shortly after James announced his decision last week, Gilbert fired off an incendiary letter to Cleveland’s fans, ripping the 25-year-old and promising to deliver a title before James wins one. He called James’ decision “cowardly” and later told The Associated Press he believes James quit during a handful of Cavaliers playoff games.

“He has gotten a free pass,” Gilbert told the AP in a phone interview late Thursday night. “People have covered up for (James) for way too long. Tonight we saw who he really is.”

Jackson said Gilbert’s comments were “mean, arrogant and presumptuous.”

“He speaks as an owner of LeBron and not the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers,” the reverend said in a release from his Chicago-based civil rights group, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. “His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality. He sees LeBron as a runaway slave. This is an owner employee relationship—between business partners—and LeBron honored his contract.”

Messages were left Sunday night seeking comment from Gilbert, the Cavaliers and James.

Jackson also called Gilbert’s comments an attack on all NBA players and said the owner should face a “challenge” from the league and the players’ association.

O I know, but I think it'd be awesome if they managed to steal if. That could be anywhere between a 12-20pnt swing in a Heat/Laker match-up (taking Fisher's 6-10 pnts from the Lakers & giving them to the Heat).